DNA

The evolutionary history and origin of syphilis, and other diseases caused by the spiral-shaped bacteria treponema, is a hotly debated topic by scholars. Scholars who theorize syphilis originated in the “New World” and preceded the 15th century have been in…

Parasitic worms that infect the human intestine lay eggs that are later excreted in feces. These parasites might spread from human to human, or they may be passed from intermediate animal hosts, such as pigs or fish, via meat consumption…

The Phoenicians were an ancient civilization that emerged in 1800 B.C. in the northern Levant and by 800 B.C. had spread their culture across the Mediterranean to parts of Asia, Europe and Africa through trade networks and settlements. Despite their…

Purification of genetic material — DNA and RNA — from organisms has always been a lengthy, expensive procedure requiring specialized laboratory equipment. While the process might have applications from diagnostics to genotyping, these practical considerations have previously limited its usage.…

Genome study suggests humans may still be evolving A recently published study in PLOS Biology suggests that humans may still be evolving. Researchers analyzed harmful genetic variants in the genomes of 210,000 people in the United States and Britain, and…

A new PLOS Biology study investigated whether teaching genetics before evolution improved understanding of evolution in U.K. schools. To learn more, I interviewed the corresponding author, Laurence Hurst, professor of evolutionary genetics and director of the Milner Centre for Evolution…

Killing livestock creates conflict between top predators and communities that graze animals. This presents a major challenge for conserving snow leopards, which are endangered, and Himalayan wolves, which are rare. These wolves prefer the open grasslands and alpine meadows that…

Foot-and-mouth model predicts most efficient vaccination strategy During major foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks, one approach to limit viral transmission is to vaccinate at-risk livestock in a ring around infected premises. The size of the ring required depends on a range of…

DNA profiling is often used for identification in crime scene investigations and in archaeological digs because DNA is unique to each individual. However, environmental and chemical processes can degrade DNA, limiting its usefulness over time. Protein, on the other hand,…